Modeling Thrust for ABS/N20 Based 3D Printed Hybrid Rocket Engine - Review of Static Fire Results

We discuss the viability of using a commonly available 3d printable material Acrylonitrile — butadiene-styrene (ABS) and Nitrous Oxide oxidizer as 3d printable fuel for rocket engines. A hybrid rocket propulsion model with ABS + N20 fuel is programmed in Python and the results have been presented in this paper. ABS can be easily shaped into complex fuel-grain geometries for solid rocket motors via 3d printing technology. Changing the grain geometry is as simple as modifying the 3-D printer CAD-file. Thrust curves results for the complex grain geometries of the ABS+N20 based 3d printed fuel have been modeled programmatically and the results have been discussed in this paper. N20, ABS are 100% non-toxic, non-explosive, and stable at room temperature and even when being 3d printed at high extrusion temperatures. Using ABS will have transformational effect on solid rocket motor production by improving, consistency and safety, while reducing development and production costs. The idea of using 3d printable fuel material is that it reduces the complexity and turnaround time in manufacturing solid rocket engines from an Indian Perspective. ISRO has been dependent on solid rockets in their missions.